Stagiaire complains of ‘vicious’ police assault

Date: 07/11/02

By Martin Banks

A EUROPEAN Parliament stagiaire told this week of how he was subjected to a 'vicious and unprovoked' assault by baton-wielding police.

Estonian Priit Ojamaa, who works in a non-paid position for the European People's Party group, needed four stitches after the alleged attack.

The 32-year-old believes he was targeted because he is from eastern Europe. He claims he was beaten after being unable to produce his passport.

'It was simply horrible and frightening,' he said.

The alleged incident happened on 29 September in an apartment Ojamaa is renovating in Rue Dautzemberg in Brussels.

Police were called to the property after a neighbour complained about the noise from his work tools.

'The police demanded to see my passport but I told them I'd left it at the flat where I am staying until the renovation work is complete.

'I showed them my Estonian identity card but they said this wasn't acceptable and proceeded to start pushing me around the room.'

Ojamaa believes he was treated worse than a football hooligan.

'One of them held me by the throat while another punched me. I was handcuffed and taken to the police station in Ixelles where I was held for several hours during which time I was threatened with deportation.'

He was released later without charge and treated for a leg wound in hospital.

Ojamaa, who comes from Tallinn, added: 'This was a vicious and totally unprovoked attack. It was my bad fortune that I was only equipped with my ID card and was wearing jeans and an old shirt instead of a tie and suit.

'The experience gave me an insight into how people from eastern Europe can be treated when they move abroad.

'I've only been in Belgium since May but I was treated like an illegal worker and did not feel welcome at all.'

Police say they are looking into his complaint.

Meanwhile, Belgian police have been accused by the Council of Europe's Torture Prevention Committee of mistreating illegal immigrants and detainees. In its latest report, the committee described as 'possibly cruel and degrading' methods used by police to expel illegal immigrants.

It criticised police for excessive use of tear gas and batons, usually while attempting to detain a suspect.